Schooling

Sorell had two schools for both sexes operating as early as 1820 said Mr John Wade before giving evidence to the Imperial Parliamentary Commissioner, Mr J.T. Bigge. The first school in the municipality was built in Sorell in 1821 and was on the site between the present school building and the headmaster's residence. Charles Edward Hippesley Cox was the first headmaster and he received £20 per annum as well as having a convict servant with a ration and a half from stores. It was a very fine stone building. There were 57 pupils at this time. By November 1888, the school consisted of two rooms and the old building was used as a residence until it was demolished in 1921. In 1926, the front room was reconstructed on a larger scale and an iron roof replaced the original shingles. Further sections were added in 1935, 1947 and 1952 and in 1955 a new room was built. In 1939, the schools at Cherry Tree and Wattle Hill amalgamated with Sorell, as did Forcett in 1949 and Cambridge seniors and Nugent in 1950. Some highlights in the school's development include: In 1827, a children's census was taken of the lower settlement and upper settlement at Pittwater and Carlton area and below are the names of children in the district, their age and whether attending school. There is also a section about children with special family needs. The information was gathered from microfilm at the Archives Office of Tasmania. Children could attend school from age 3 to age 15.
 * 1930 introduction of Agricultural training
 * 1931 presentation of a century old bell by Mr Charles Birchall
 * 1933 presentation of a 300 year old sundial by Mrs G.R. Davis
 * 1936 introduction of home arts training for girls
 * 1947 introduction of trades classes for boys

** Children at lower settlement Pittwater **

 * = **Name of child** ||= **Age (in years)** ||= **Attends school** ||
 * = Rawlings, James ||= 8 ||= Yes ||
 * = Rawlings, Alfrede ||= 7 ||= N ||
 * = Buckingshaw, Mary ||= 12 ||= N ||
 * = Buckingshaw, Eliza ||= 2 ||= N ||
 * = Buckingshaw, Sarah ||= 3 ||= N ||
 * = Kennedy, Ann ||= 5 ||= N ||
 * = Kennedy, Harriett ||= 15mo ||= N ||
 * = Arnsow, Mary ? ||= 9 ||= N ||
 * = Hursy, Eliza ? ||= 2 ||= N ||
 * = Evans, James ||= 7 ||= N ||
 * = Gangil, John ||= 9 ||= N ||
 * = Gangil, Jacob ||= 7 ||= N ||
 * = Gangil, Mary ||= 5 ||= N ||
 * = Gangil, Alice ||= 3 ||= N ||
 * = Gangil, Isaac ||= 10mo ||= N ||
 * = Patterson, Sarah ||= 9 ||= N ||
 * = Patterson, William ||= 7 ||= N ||
 * = Patterson, Mary ||= 5 ||= N ||
 * = Patterson, Thomas ||= 4 ||= N ||
 * = Patterson, Emma ||= 15mo ||= N ||
 * = Pross, Charles ||= 2 ||= N ||
 * = Reilley, Thomas ||= 8 ||= N ||
 * = Reilley, George ||= 5 ||= N ||
 * = Reilley, Eliza ||= 2 ||= N ||
 * = Bingham, George ||= 17 ||= can read and write ||
 * = Bingham, James ||= 15 ||= cannot read or write ||
 * = Bingham, Robert ||= 13 ||= N ||
 * = Patterson, Eliza ||= 15 ||= can read and write ||
 * = Wade, Lewis ||= 9 ||= Yes ||
 * = Kemp, Richard ||= 5 ||= N ||
 * = Kemp, Mary ||= 3 ||= N ||
 * = Kemp, Ann ||= 2 ||= N ||
 * = Howell, Thomas ||= 3 ||= N ||
 * = Howell, Nancy ||= 18mo ||= N ||
 * = Newport, Mary ||= 4 ||= N ||
 * = Newport, Joseph ||= 10mo ||= N ||
 * = Kane, Ellen ||= 6 ||= Roman Catholic cannot read or write ||
 * = Kane, Eliza ||= 3 ||= Roman Catholic cannot read or write ||
 * = Kane, Sarah ||= 1 ||= Roman Catholic cannot read or write ||
 * = Newport, Mary ||= 13 ||= N ||
 * = Reardon, Susan ||= 15 ||= can read and write ||
 * = Reardon, Sarah ||= 12 ||= Yes ||
 * = Reardon, Bartholomew ||= 10 ||= Yes ||
 * = Reardon, Robert ||= 8 ||= Yes ||
 * = Reardon, William ||= 5 ||= Yes ||
 * = Reardon, Edward ||= 1 ||= N ||
 * = Roustey, William? ||= 9 ||= Yes ||
 * = Young, Henry ||= 13 ||= Yes ||
 * = McCandrew, Ann? ||= 3 ||= Roman Catholic cannot read or write ||
 * = McCandrew, Mary ||= 1 ||= Roman Catholic cannot read or write ||
 * = McNamara, Ann ||= 14 ||= Roman Catholic cannot read or write ||
 * = McNamara, Mary ||= 3 ||= Roman Catholic cannot read or write ||
 * = Dolan, James ||= 1 ||= Roman Catholic cannot read or write ||
 * = Coggins, Margret ||= 12 ||= Roman Catholic can read & write ||
 * = Coggins, Catharine ||= 10 ||= Roman Catholic can read & write ||
 * = Cunningham, Ann ||= 17 ||= Roman Catholic cannot read or write ||
 * = Cunningham, Mary ||= 14 ||= Roman Catholic cannot read or write ||
 * = Cunningham, Patt ||= 11 ||= Roman Catholic cannot read or write ||
 * = Cunningham, Margret ||= 2 ||= Roman Catholic cannot read or write ||
 * = McGowan, Honorah ||= 15 ||= Roman Catholic can read & write ||
 * = McGowan, John ||= 13 ||= Roman Catholic can read & write ||
 * = McGowan, James ||= 3 ||= Roman Catholic cannot read or write ||
 * = Wolley, George ||= 9 ||= N ||
 * = Wolley, William ||= 4 ||= N ||
 * = Wiggins, Charles ||= 5 ||= N ||
 * = Walker, Thomas ||= 2 ||= N ||
 * = Walker, Susana ||= 6mo ||= N ||
 * = Wiggins, Martha ||= 4 ||= N ||
 * = Wiggins, Samuel ||= 8mo ||= N ||
 * = Gill, Esther ||= 5 ||= N ||
 * = Gill, Mary ||= 3 ||= N ||
 * = Gill, Elizabeth ||= 1 ||= N ||
 * = Gatehouse, Charles ||= 8 ||= Yes ||
 * = Gatehouse, Mary Ann ||= 7 ||= N ||
 * = Gatehouse, Harriett ||= 3 ||= N ||
 * = Gatehouse, George ||= 2 ||= N ||
 * = Allemby, Jane ||= 3 ||= N ||

** Children at upper settlement Pittwater **

 * = **Name of child** ||= **Age (in years)** ||= **Attends school** ||
 * = Downward, Joseph ||= 20 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Downward, Frances ||= 17 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Downward, Edward ||= 15 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Downward, Frederick ||= 14 ||= N ||
 * = Downward, Jaimes ||= 11 ||= N ||
 * = Downward, Alice ||= 10 ||= N ||
 * = Downward, Ellen ||= 8 ||= N ||
 * = Downward, Thomas ||= 5 ||= N ||
 * = Downward, Margret ||= 3 ||= N ||
 * = Downward, John ||= 2 ||= N ||
 * = Hayton, George ||= 3 ||= N ||
 * = Hayton, James ||= 1 ||= N ||
 * = Glover, Eliza ||= 15 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Glover, Henry ||= 13 ||= N ||
 * = Glover, Charles ||= 5 ||= N ||
 * = Billett, George ||= 16 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Billett, James ||= 18 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Billett, John ||= 4 ||= N ||
 * = Billett, Walter ||= 4mo ||= N ||
 * = Willice, John? ||= 6weeks ||= N ||
 * = Kidner, Thomas ||= 5 ||= Yes ||
 * = Kidner, Eliza ||= 3 ||= N ||
 * = Kidner, Jean ||= 1 ||= N ||
 * = Kidner, Ann ||= 6 ||= Yes ||
 * = Allums, Emma ||= 18 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Allums, Eliza ||= 16 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Allums, William ||= 13 ||= N ||
 * = Allums, Jacob ||= 11 ||= Yes ||
 * = Allums, Mary ||= 9 ||= N ||
 * = Allums, Robert ||= 7 ||= N ||
 * = Allums, John ||= 6 ||= N ||
 * = Allums, Edward ||= 4 ||= N ||
 * = Birchell, James ||= 17 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Birchell, William ||= 15 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Birchell, Charles ||= 12 ||= Yes ||
 * = Birchell, John ||= 10 ||= Yes ||
 * = Birchell, George ||= 8 ||= Yes ||
 * = Birchell, Eliza ||= 6 ||= Yes ||
 * = Birchell, Susan ||= 4 ||= Yes ||
 * = Birchell, Henry ||= 2mo ||= N ||
 * = Kimber, Edward ||= 21 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Kimber, John ||= 19 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Kimber, William ||= 15 ||= cannot read or write ||
 * = Kimber, Maria ||= 10 ||= N ||
 * = Kimber, Thomas ||= 8 ||= N ||
 * = Kimber, Jane ||= 4 ||= N ||
 * = Laing, John ||= 11 ||= Yes ||
 * = Laing, Alexander ||= 9 ||= Yes ||
 * = Laing, James ||= 7 ||= Yes ||
 * = Laing, Susan ||= 4 ||= Yes ||
 * = Laing, Helen ||= 2 ||= N ||
 * = Stacy, Susan ||= 6 ||= Yes ||
 * = Stacey, John ||= 2 ||= N ||
 * = McQuire, Mary ||= 3 ||= N ||
 * = Fittiss, John? ||= 21 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Fittiss, William? ||= 14 ||= N ||
 * = Foreman, Jane ||= 6 ||= Yes ||
 * = Foreman, James ||= 2 ||= N ||
 * = Foreman, Daniel ||= 1 ||= N ||
 * = Anglum, Elizabeth? ||= 11 ||= Yes ||
 * = Wood, Jean ||= 7 ||= Yes ||
 * = Wood, John ||= 5 ||= Yes ||
 * = Wood, William ||= 3 ||= N ||
 * = Wood, Joseph ||= 1 ||= N ||
 * = Duncomb, Sophia ||= 17 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Duncomb, Jean ||= 13 ||= N ||
 * = Hambley, Lucy ||= 11 ||= N ||
 * = Dogherty, Elizabeth ||= 9 ||= Yes ||
 * = Dogherty, James ||= 7 ||= Yes ||
 * = Dogherty, Mary Ann ||= 5 ||= N ||
 * = Dogherty, John ||= 2 ||= N ||
 * = Steers, George ||= 8 ||= N ||
 * = Larsom, Mary Ann ||= 15 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Larsom, Richard ||= 12 ||= N ||
 * = Larsom, Jemima ||= 9 ||= Yes ||
 * = Larsom, Elizabeth ||= 7 ||= N ||
 * = Larsom, Jean ||= 4 ||= N ||
 * = Gatehouse, Mary ||= 18 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Gatehouse, Grace ||= 14 ||= N ||
 * = Gatehouse, Sarah ||= 13 ||= N ||
 * = Gatehouse, John ||= 12 ||= N ||
 * = Gatehouse, Charles ||= 7 ||= N ||
 * = Gatehouse, George ||= 9 ||= N ||
 * = Walker, Helen ||= 2 ||= N ||
 * = Cox, Mary ||= 2 ||= N ||
 * = Cox, Samuel ||= 1 ||= N ||
 * = Wade, Ann ||= 17 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Wade, Mary ||= 15 ||= can read or write ||
 * = Wade, John ||= 13 ||= N ||
 * = Wade, Henry ||= 11 ||= N ||
 * = Wade, George ||= 10 ||= N ||
 * = Wade, Margaret ||= 6 ||= N ||
 * = Garrett, H. Maria ||= 3 ||= N ||
 * = Green, Caroline ||= 11 ||= N ||
 * = Green, Jean ||= 8 ||= N ||
 * = Green, John ||= 6 ||= N ||
 * = Ganard, George S.? ||= 1 ||= N ||
 * = Culliford, George ||= 4 ||= N ||
 * = Culliford, Ann ||= 3 ||= N ||
 * = Culliford, Susan ||= 1 ||= N ||

** Children in the Carlton district of Gloucester **

 * = Name of child ||= Age in years ||= Attends school ||
 * = Cooper, Eliza ||= 12 ||= No ||
 * = Cooper, Elizabeth ||= 9 ||= No ||
 * = Cooper, William ||= 7 ||= No ||
 * = McGinnis, Sarah ||= 5 ||= No ||
 * = McGinnis, Susan ||= 3 ||= No ||
 * = McGinnis, Kesiah ||= 18mo ||= No ||
 * = McGinnis, Emily ||= 2 ||= No ||
 * = McGinnis, William ||= 7mo ||= No ||
 * = Smith, William ||= 17 ||= Can read or write ||
 * = Smith, Eliza ||= 15 ||= Can read or write ||
 * = Smith, Abigail ||= 10 ||= No ||
 * = Morris, Robert ||= 17 ||= Can read or write ||
 * = Morris, Henry ||= 14 ||= No ||
 * = Dodge, Sarah ||= 2 ||= No ||
 * = Vallely, Mary ||= 11 ||= No ||
 * = Vallely, Charlotte ||= 8 ||= No ||
 * = Vallely, Francis ||= 5 ||= No ||
 * = Vallely, Sarah ||= 3 ||= No ||
 * = Steele, Edward Sampson ||= 12 ||= No ||
 * = Steele, Joseph Sampson ||= 11 ||= No ||
 * = Steele, Anthony Wylie ||= 10 ||= No ||
 * = Steele, Richard ||= 7 ||= No ||
 * = Steele, Mary Ellen ||= 5 ||= No ||
 * = Steele, James Gordon ||= 3 ||= No ||
 * = Steele, Elizabeth Ann ||= 1 ||= No ||
 * = Brown, James ||= 5 ||= No ||

** Children with special family conditions **
** Orphans, male and female **
 * Morris, Henry || 14 years || Carlton || Good character || Father has been a constable of the Carlton, destroyed himself by hanging; an Inquest taken at the hollow tree. ||
 * Morris, Robert || 17 years || Carlton || Good character ||^  ||


 * Ormon, Mary || 9 years || lower settlement Pittwater ||  || In charge of a single man at the lower Ferry, no relation. Recommended to His Excellency - from her tender years and sex, that she be provided for else where. ||
 * Males and females having a father living **
 * Evans, James || 7 years || Pittwater || Good character || Father had been free, tried for sheep stealing and sent to Macquarie Harbour. ||
 * Routley, WIlliam || 9 years || Pittwater || Good character || Mother dead, father an outlaw in the woods, charged with being concerned in the murder of Mr Simpson. ||
 * Young, Henry || 13 years || Pittwater || Good character || Father gone to England, has been an assistant Surgeon on this establishment. ||
 * Green, John || 6 years || Sorell || Good character || Mother died, father Constable at Sorell holding a ticket of leave. ||
 * Green, Caroline || 11 years || Sorell || Good character ||^  ||
 * Green, Jane || 8 years || Sorell || Good character ||^  ||
 * Males and females having both parents living but in distress **
 * Rose, John || 2 years || Richmond ||  || Illegitimate, mother's name Dwyer a convict, child adopted by John Rose, blacksmith ||
 * Kimber, John || 19 years || Pittwater || Good character || Father holds a ticket of leave, mother and six children sent out from England by Government, industrious but distressed. ||
 * Kimber, WIlliam || 15 years || Pittwater || Good character ||^  ||
 * Kimber, Thomas || 8 years || Pittwater || Good character ||^  ||
 * Kimber, Jane || 4 years || Pittwater || Good character ||^  ||
 * Kimber, Maria || 10 years || Pittwater || Good character ||^  ||
 * Evans, James || 7 years || Pittwater ||  || Father transported to Macquarie Harbour stealing sheep from Mr Gordon ||
 * Newport, Joseph || 10 months || Pittwater ||  || Illegitimate, mother free, a bad woman ||
 * Newport, Mary || 4 years || Pittwater ||  ||^   ||
 * Kennedy, Ann || 5 years || Pittwater ||  || Father had been Scoolmaster at one time in the District, sometimes cracked, inclined to be drunken when he can get it, unfit for labour, wife daughter to an old Marine - distressed ||
 * Kennedy, Harriett || 15 months || Pittwater ||  ||^   ||
 * Harry, Eliza || 2.5 years || Pittwater ||  || Father found guilty of killing a beast the property of Mr Lewis, sentence Death, transported to Macquarie Harbour. ||
 * Gould, Catharine || 5 years || Jerusalem ||  || Illegitimate, mother free, bad woman ||
 * Lynch, Ellen || 6 years || Coal River ||  || Father free by servitude, left the country, mother free, a bad woman in Hobart Town ||
 * Perryman, Zilda || 4 years || Coal River ||  || Mother a prisoner assigned to Mr Pevor, father in England ||
 * Males and females having a mother living and father deceased **
 * Patterson, Eliza || 15 years || Pittwater || Good character || Native of Hobart Town, father had been wharfinger, living with sister. ||
 * Judge, Catharine || 6 years || Coal River ||  || Living with James Stynes on charity, mother a bad character living at the black brush ||
 * Cooper, Eliza || 12 years || Carlton ||  || Father dead, mother married to Hugh McGinniss Constable of the Carlton - opulent ||
 * Cooper, Elizabeth || 9 years || Carlton ||  ||^   ||
 * Cooper, William || 7 years || Carlton ||  ||^   ||
 * Vallely, Mary || 11 years || Carlton ||  || Father dead, drowned at the Carlton, mother married to Bernard Quinton - opulent ||
 * Vallely, Charlotte || 8 years || Carlton ||  ||^   ||
 * Vallely, Francis || 5 years || Carlton ||  ||^   ||
 * Vallely, Sarah || 3 years || Carlton ||  ||^   ||
 * Cobb, William || 12 years || Tea Tree Brush ||  || Father killed by a tree falling on him at New Town, mother a very bad woman living at the Tea Tree Brush ||
 * Cobb, Hanna || 8 years || Tea Tree Brush ||  ||^   ||
 * Cobb, John || 6 years || Tea Tree Brush ||  ||^   ||